Canada

Longyuan chooses GE for first overseas project

CANADA: For its first overseas project, China's largest wind project developer, Longyuan Power Generation, has selected turbines made by US-based GE.

Longyuan has chosen GE for its Dufferin project
The 100MW Dufferin project in Ontario, Canada will use 31 of GE’s 1.6-100 machines and 18 of its 2.75-103 model. They will be shipped to the site in 2013, with commercial operation expected in 2014.

Longyuan’s choice of non-Chinese wind turbines underscores the challenges faced by Chinese manufacturers as they seek to start exporting in volume.

Because Chinese original equipment manufacturers have almost exclusively gained experience only in their home market, their technology is still seen as too risky by most major developers and financers in North America and Europe.

"As the competition grows across the global wind industry, the most cost effective projects with the best technology will win," said Vic Abate, GE’s vice president of renewable energy.

GE turbines will have to meet Ontario’s requirement for 50% local content, as required under the province’s Green Energy Act.

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